A crime story in ten words challenge for all ages

Simon Kernick – Author and festival programming chair
I have written about quite a few competitions with short wordcount requirments, but none as short as this one again from Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2008. You are limited to just ten words!

To celebrate the 2008 National Year of Reading, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival has launched a national search to find the best 10 word crime story (not including title!).
The adult winner prize includes a full weekend package to the 2009 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate, England, including accommodation, the 2008 longlist for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and a crate of Theakstons Old Peculier.
For those aged 17 and under, there is a special prize of a full set of Andy McNab's fantastic series of books, 'Boy Soldier'.
Simon Kernick – best selling author, and programming chair of the 2008 Festival today said: ‘We are looking for all kinds of story, funny, peculiar or evocative, it just has to involve crime! I had great fun writing mine and hope everyone else has as much fun with theirs! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 2008 National Year of Reading and can’t wait to read the entries.’
To inspire you here are just some of the stories written by crime writers:
Stuart MacBride - The Cold Embrace
The dead never leave you. That's why I love them...
Simon Kernick - Dark House
Picked off one by one. Four… Three… Two… It’s You!
Simon Beckett - The Case of the Killer Cliché
"Good grief!" exclaimed Bertie. "The butler really did do it!"
Jill Paton Walsh - Susannah and the Elders
Daniel asked: under what tree? Oak? Mastic? Disagreement. Girl Innocent.

Stories can either be emailed to crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk or posted to 10 Word Crime Story, TOPCrime Writing Festival, Raglan House, Raglan Street, Harrogate, HG1 1LE.
The deadline is 5pm on Mon June 23 – and the winner will be announced on Thursday July 3.
If under 18 you must mark your entry clearly 'Under 18's competition', and send to the email or postal address above again by 5pm on Monday June 23.
Good luck everyone!

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